Playing with Railway Union since: 2007
Why in the news: Won the Marchant Cup 2009 for batting in Leinster. In 18 innings Fisher scored 623 runs at an average of 38.94 with a top score of 91.
CP: Congratulations on winning the Marchant Cup. What does it mean to you winning the Cup?
TF: Thank you very much, winning the Marchant Cup means a lot to me. I was very suprised when I found out. It was a goal of mine to win this at some stage but I did not think it would happen this year. While at the start of the season it is always a goal to have as high an average as possible, there are a lot of quality batsmen in Leinster.
CP: How was the season at Railway - it started and finshed well but the piece in the middle wasn't great, with injuries and the pro going back?
TF: It was a funny season for us on Park Avenue. Speaking to people around the club before the season started, the general feeling was that our main priority should be to avoid relegation from Section A. So to win the DGM Cup, get to the 20/20 Finals Day and to finish 2nd in the League has to been seen as a pretty successful season.
We did, however, let ourselves down in 3 games (The Hills at home and Clontarf at home and away) which, if we had won just one, would have won us the League. So there was some disappointment there. Without a pro, and with our Irish reps coming in and out, some guys really had to stand up and contribute.
Each member of the squad played a match-saving/winning innings or bowled a spell that changed a game at some point during the season. For me, this is why we finished where we did in the League and did well in the other competitions. That is satisfying and something we can all be proud of.
Kenny Carroll has been doing a huge amount of work on our square too and the pitches, while not belters and when we get a decent dry period, are now pretty good to bat on.
CP: How was the season for you personally?
TF: I really enjoyed this season. Having played two previous seasons in Leinster, I am now beginning to get used to the pitches here and the way guys bowl. And it was a nice change to play every scheduled match!
While I met some of my goals for the season, I missed some others, so there is something to work on.
Railway is a great club to play for. I really enjoy playing cricket with the guys in the 1st team and there is a solid group of devoted followers who come and support us every week.
CP: Were Railway disappointed to lose out on the League after pushing Clontarf all the way?
TF: Naturally we were disappointed not to win the League. We played some very good cricket throughout the season but we also played some pretty average cricket. We had a narrow victory over Clontarf in the DGM group stages but, unfortunately, in the two games against them in the League we played probably our worst cricket of the year and were, deservedly, well beaten.
Clontarf seem to me to be a very balanced and settled side. They have a strong top six or seven batsmen and a bowling attack that gives you very little. Rod Hokin is a very good pro and their senior players perform every week. That's what you need to win this league. So while it was a shame that we couldn't quite do it, this year they deserved their Championship.
CP: What was your highlight of the season?
TF: There were a number of highlights for me this year. Winning the DGM Competition without some of our more well-known squad members was a great achievement.
Also, beating Leinster as easily as we did on three occasions, with the great season they had, was pleasing.
Contributing to our win over North County in the League felt pretty good too, I heard it was the first time in eight years that a Railway 1st team had beaten a County 1st team.
Finding out Carlo Rendell has a pair of boots that he uses exclusively for batting was hilarious....
CP: What has been the highlight of your cricket career to date?
TF: Winning consecutive NZ age group championships with Canterbury was a great achievement and something I am very proud to have been involved in.
Captaining the Canterbury Kiwis versus the Northern NSW Emus - my father did it a long time ago and my brother has done it since.
CP: And your biggest disappointment?
TF: Getting a golden duck in my first game for my school first XI. I was 15 and it was a hat-trick ball. I didn't play a shot at an in-swinger and was given out LBW.
Playing in the final of the secondary schools one day competition in Christchurch, my team (Christ's College) needed one run to win off about 5 overs. We were bowled out with the scores tied and the opposition (Christchurch Boy's High School) were awarded the victory with a better run rate.
In 3 years of 1st XI school cricket I never beat Boy's High.
CP: What are your remaining ambitions in the game?
TF: To score more runs than I did this year, drop as few catches as possible and get my bowling to a point where Kenny or TJ throw me the ball before Carlo Rendell. I've got a long way to go!
I also want to improve my fitness so I can bat for longer and score more hundreds.
CP: Favourite cricketer and why?
TF: Mike Hussey and Justin Langer - Both are true professionals, have overcome periods of self doubt to become world-class and they seem to be nice guys as well.
CP: Biggest influence on your career?
TF: My father, Michael. Dad used to take me down to the nets and throw balls at me for hours.
CP: What else are you passionate about besides cricket?
TF: The All Blacks, Liverpool Football Club, travelling, European history, music.
Tom Fisher in conversation with Liam Rooney
Copyright: Cover Point
